Imitative identity: a state of non-integration

Abstract

On the basis of mother-baby observations and analytic experience, it is argued that a trauma during infancy leads to a psychic functioning where the early defensive manoeuvres of non-integration described by Eugenio Gaddini cannot be given up in fear of a repetition of the catastrophe, already experienced once in early infancy, of losing the self. This state of non-integration can be seen in a traumatized girl's missing feminine symbolizations as well as in her false self. A girl is described who had to stick to a transitional object, which seems to represent concretization, an inablity to symbolize, instead of being able to use a transitional phenomenon supporting healthy development. A case of a hysteric woman illustrates the state of non-integration due to an evident early trauma. For women, as in this case, the female inner-genitality has to be filled with pregenital drive-contents. The binding functions as well as the symbolization function are paralysed due to integration-anxiety. In analysing the resistance of my patient, I have found an active use of imitation for the purpose of self-defense within the transference against receiving the analyst's understanding, empathy or interpretations. This state of non-integration, possibly typical of hysteria, is what Gaddini calls imitative identity.